Tablet-making machine



Jan. 19, 1937. L H BAlLEY 2,068,619

TABLET MAKING MACHINE Filed Svept. 13, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l 2 WM M` 4 44 25 Jan. 19, 1937.

TABLET MAKING MACHINE Filed sept. 1s, 1935-- H. BAILEY 2,068,619

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 if 3433 E I 37 =lf 4'/ 37 \I A l] W .F763 42.

F/ 6. 2. A WMM/P I gl' A aw//zcefl'y Jan. 19, 1937. H. BAlLEY 2,068,619

TABLET MAKING MACHINE.

Filed Sept. 15, 19.35 5 sheets-Sheet 3 Ff@ F/G. /3.

Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,068,619 TABLET-MAKING MACHINE Lawrence H. Bailey, Philadelphia, Pa., assgnor to F. J. Stokes Machine Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 13, 1935, Serial No. .40,388 7 Claims. (Cl. 107-17) This invention pertains to new and useful im- Fig. 6 is a ldetail view with parts in cross secprovements in rotary tablet-compressing mation of the lower end of an upper punch. chines and particularly to improvements in the Fig. 7 is an end view of the upper punch shown rotary head and in the tools used for the proin Fig. 6. duction of perforated tablets. Fig. 8 shows an end view of bushing 3l. 5

The object of my invention is to provide simple Fig. 9 is a View in elevatiOn ShOWlng One type and practical means for compressing either cylinof button produced by this compressor.

drical or irregular shaped tablets having an ir- Figs. 10, 11,'12 and 13 ShOW SOme rePreSentaregular shaped perforation and/or a plurality of tive forms of tablets produced by suitably modl- 10 perforations therein. To this end my invention fied tool-assemblies. l0 includes the following features; In the embodiment chosen for the illustration Means for supporting the perforating punch of my invention, particularly Fig. 1, this type or punches; of machine is usually provided with a table 4I,

Improved means for conveniently obtaining mounted on a suitable base, and having a central and maintaining the alignment of the several Spindle (ndt SllOWn) thereun, around Which the l5 members of the total assembly regardless of the head rotates A Cam I3 iS fastened rigidly i0 shape of tablet, perforations or the number of the Spindle AS the upper punch l5 1S Carried perforations; around by punch holder I6, the head I4 of punch Means for discharging or expelling the powder I5, which rests on cam I3, will raise or lower '20 leaking through into the lower tool assembly. DunCll l5 00 Suit the Cycle 0f Operations- FOI 20 Machines of this type have been used extencontrolling the endwise movements of lower sively for compressing cylindrical or ring-shaped punch 44, Cams are placed 0n liable 4| R011- tablets from powdered or plastic materials; such eIS ll and 4l are Placed at One 0r more points as sugar, phenol-formaldehyde resins, ceramics, in the Path 0f the punches and aS the Punches o5 etc one example of such a, machine boing depass between these rollers the compression of the 25 scribed in U. S. Patent #1,207,337 granted to POWdeI takes Place. Francis J. Stokes, Dec. 5, 1916. such articles, The rotating head is made up of a number of however, were of necessity all made cylindrical in superimposed large rings or annular discs with shape and with the perforation of a true circular Smaller rines or necks in between forming a 3' outline centrally located. The design and manu- Structure 0f Several Stories and 0f diameter t0 30 facturing possibilities were limited to one par- Suit the (l0-acting meChaniSlIl. A plurality 0f ticular shape, that of a ring. In tablets of this apertures are spaced 0n the punch Circle aI'OuIld kind the perforationis commonly referred to as the head and Cut Clear 'hIOugh the Several the core and the punh-member, producing this stories to form bearings and seats for the various core, is usually referred to as the core-rod. members ln each t00laSSemblY- Any Dumber 0f 35 'I'he attached drawings forming a part of this apertures' ful example fifteen 0T twenty-three, specification, show a preferred embodiment of my may be PTOVlded t0 TeCeVe and Support aS many machine for compressing tablets or buttons havtool'assemblles each tool assembly Producing lng fom. perforatlons or coresone tablet for each set of rolls passed every '4o Fig l lS an elevational new partly ln section revolution. 'Ihe upper punch l5 of Fig. 2 has its 40 of so much of a rotary compressor as is necesbaringand guide in, disc E the Corresponding sary to illustrate my invention, the tool-assembly dle 23 1s supported m disc 24 and the matmg here shown compressing a tablet. lower punch-36-With itsf cor'mq or core'rods- 4: Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the 1,11; isisgenlange ggigd dvsl zgsenceegl 45 gteilag rlllghgftggvemmy m posltion meshing with the teeth of a pinion or worm (not Fig 3 represents a Side eievation at right shown) fastened on a shaft driven at suitable speed from a prime mover so as to im art the angles to Fig' 2 Wlth parts m Vertlcal cross Sec' desired speed of rotary motion to the head. The

ti011 0f a lower Punch- 1ower roller 41, Fig. 1 usuany has its ax1e 4s 5o l Fie. 4 is la top plan view on en enlarged Seele supported in a 1ever or carrier 49 with its fulof the core rods and holder OIInng Dari? 0f a crum 48 fastened to the table 4|, the opposite lower punch. end of carrier 49 being supported by an adjust- Fig. 5 is an enlarged upper end View of a lowable linkage, the adjustment being accomplished er punch complete. A through some such means as a handwheel 50. 55

The distance between rolls and 41 is so arranged that tablets of varying thickness within the range of the machine may be made as desired by adjusting the handwheel 56 so as to change the length of the linkage to suit the thickness.

As may be understood from the above description, each set o f tools or tool-assembly consists of an upper punch I 5, a die 23, and a lower punch 36. It is evident that to produce a tablet of any of the shapes shown in Figs. 9 to 13, the toolassembly not only must be in perfect axial alignment but in radial alignment as well, for the die is shaped to the exact outline of the desired tablet and the punches have a snug sliding i-lt in the die. To prevent upper punch I5 from rotating, I provide a key I8 fastened into the shank of punch I5 and engaging a key-way I1 in bearing I6. I have shown here, what is commonly known as a Woodruff key, as the means of guiding and keeping punch I5 in radial alignment but any other means may be used such as a square or polygonal punch shank fitting into a bearing of corresponding shape.

Die 23 is inserted in its holder 24 and if theA mold is of irregular shape the die is turned until in perfect alignment with punch I5 and then clamped into place.

The method of keeping the lower punch 36 in alignment depends somewhat on the shape of tablet being made. When a tablet of irregular outline is used this punch may be kept in alignment by the die itself, if the parts are so Larranged that the end of the punchnever leaves the die. When cylindrical tablets having a plurality of perforations or an irregular shaped perforation is desired, the radial alignment between the upper and lower punches cannot be maintained by means of the die. Some-guiding means, radially adjustable in relation to the position of the upper punch, must be used. I therefore,

vprovide a bushing 3| around the shank of punch 36 and fasten key 35 into the shank of punch 36 so as to engage with a key-way 32 in bushing 3|. Punch 36 may then be aligned with-punch I5 by turning bushing 3| as desired. Some such means as holes 39v may be provided for the use of a Spanner-wrench in turning bushing 3 I. It will be noted that the perforating rods 2| extend through apertures in the upper face of lower punch 36 and, as a tablet is being compressed, the core-rods enter corresponding apertures in the lower face of upper punch I5. The alignment between the two punches must, therefore, be very accurate and once set it must'be maintained, this is accomplished by fastening bushing 3| by means of washer 33 and screw 34 or some similar means.

The bushing 3| also serves the purpose of supporting the core-rod. It may be noticed in Figs. 1 and 2 that a recess 29 is cut in the seat for bushing 3| and into this recess extends the crosshead 28 of the core-rod support 21.

The core-rods'2I are usually fitted into the lower punch 36, so that a properVV feed or a natural and uniform flow of the material to be compressed into the mold-cell 22 and around the core-rods 2| may be obtained. The lower punch 36 may be made hollow as shown at 40 and may have a slot 38 cut through the shank to receive the core-rod and its holder 28. The core rods 2| (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) may be fastened into a holder 21, which has an extension 26 on the upper side supporting the core-rods 2|, and a cross head or wings 26, extending through slot 36 in the punch shank. These wings 28 rest at their lower edges on bushing 3| (Fig. 2) in recess 29. Only suiiicient clearance is allowed in recess 29 so as to permit the wings 28 to turn with the lower VIpunch 36 as it is being aligned with upper punch I5 but the core-rod has no endwise movement. Core-rod 2| extends up through mold-cell 22- about flush with the top of die 23-and remains stationary with relation to the endwise movement of the upper and lower punches.

It should be noted (Fig. 1) that the upper punch enters the die 23 a considerable distance in order to compress the material placed in the mold cell 22. This can be seen to best advantage in Fig. 2. As the upper punch is lowered into mold-cell 22 the stationary core-rods 2| enter the apertures 20 provided in the face of punch I5, and thus the material is compressed in the mold around the core-rods 2|. Some material and dust may be forced up into the aperture around the core-rods during the compression, and exits are provided for this through cross passages I9 (Fig. 5) in upper punch I5.

A certain amount of the nes in the material or dust will work down through the apertures in the upper face of punch 36 around the corerods 2| and this material would fill the cavities in the punch body around each core-rod unless means were provided for it to work down past the core-rod support 26. For this purpose the corerod support 26 (Figs. 6 and '1)l is made cylindrical with an upper wedge-shaped face, the cylindrical portion being provided with utes 53, which flutes extend down the side of the support providing channels or passages for the ne material to escape through the hollow part of the punch.

4The method of simultaneous compression preferred in machines of this type is also used in my devicethe punches approaching each other at a uniform rate of speed as they pass between rollers and 41-and the pressure is thus. applied equally from both sides to the material while the core-rods, although radially adjustable, remain stationary with relation to the endwise movement of the punches.

After the material in the mold-cell 22 has been compressed into a tablet between the rollers I and 41, the head 31 of the lower punch 36 strikes cam 45 and lifts the tablet out of the mold, at the same time, of course, stripping it olf the corerods. The punch is lifted until its face is flush or slightly above the face of die 23 and at this point the tablet is removed from the punch by means of some form of a scraper.

Another feature which effects the convenience of operation is the method of providing large keyways 54 in bushing 3| as may be seen in Fig. 8. The large keyways 54 are cut a suitable angle from'keyway 32 so that when key 35 is engaging keyway 32 it would be impossible for the wings 28 of core-rod support to come over keyway 54 and permit the core-rod assembly to drop out. This arrangement permits the insertion or removal of the lower punches 36 together with the core-rod 2| without the removal or unclamping of the retaining bushing 3|. The punches 36 can be removed without disturbing the bushing by dropping them slightly at the removal position-the plug 42 is first taken out ofthe cam surface supporting the lower punch so that they may be lowered to disengage key 35 from on the keyway-and then by rotating as needed wings'28 Will engage the keyways 54. When replacing the punch again perfect alignment is automatically obtained without resorting to any adjustment of bushing 3|. Y.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary tablet-compressing machine, the combination comprising, a rotating head, an upper punch, a key holding said upper punch against rotation relative to said head, a lower punch, said punches being mounted in said head for cooperating axial movement relative to each other, a bushing supporting said lower punch in said head, and a second key holding said lower punch against rotation relative to said bushing.

2. In a rotary tablet-compressing machine, the combination comprising, a rotating head, an upper punch, a key holding said upper punch against rotation relative to said head, a lower punch, said punches being mounted in said head for cooperating axial movement relative to each other, a bushing supporting said lower punch in said head, a second key holding said lower'punch against rotation relative to said bushing and a disk securing said bushing to said rotating head.

3. In a rotary tablet-compressing machine, the combination comprising, a rotating head, an upper punch, a key holding said upper punch against rotation relative to said head, a lower punch, said punches being mounted in said head for cooperating axial movement relative to each other,.a second key holding said lower punch against rotation relative to said head and to said upper punch, and a core-rod mounted within and projecting through said lower punch.

4. In a rotary tablet-compressing machine, the combination comprising, a rotating head, an upper punch, a key holding said upper punch against rotation relative to said head, a lower punch having an axial opening extending through the sides thereof, a holder mounted in said opening and having Wings thereon extending through the sides of said lower punch, a core-rod mounted on said holder and projecting through the upper face of said lower punch, said holder having flutes extending axially thereof and providing outlets between said lower punch and said holder, said i punches being mounted in said head for cooperating axial movement relative to each other and to said head, and a second key holding said lower punch against rotation relative to said head and to said upper'punch.

5. In a rotary tablet-compressing machine, the

combination comprising, a rotating head, an upper punch, a key holding said upper punch against rotation relative to said head, a lower punch hav-l ing an axial opening therein extending through the sides of said lower punch, a holder mounted in said opening and having wings thereon projecting through the sides of said lower punch, a core-rod mounted on said holder and projecting through the upper face of said lower punch, a bushing surrounding a portion of said lower punch and supporting said holder by means of said wings, and a second key between said lower punch and said bushing holding said lower punch against rotation relative to said bushing and said upper punch.

6. In a rotary tablet-compresing machine, the combination comprising, a rotating head, an opper punch, a key holding said upper punch against rotation relative to said head, a lower punch having an axial opening therein extending through the sides of said lower punch, a holder mounted in said opening and having wings thereon projecting through the sides of said lower punch, a core-rod mounted on said holder and projecting through the upper face of said lower punch, a bushing surrounding a portion of said lower punch and having axial keyways therein providing for the passage of the wings on said holder through said keyways during assembly and adapted to support said wings and said holder on the upper surface of said bushing in normal position, a second key located between said bushing and said lower punch and holding said lower punch against rotation relative to said bushing and to said upper punch, and a washer seeming said bushing against rotation relative to said rotating head.

7. In a rotary tablet-compressing machine, the combination comprising, a rotating head, an upper punch, a key holding said upper punch against rotation relative to said head, a lower punch, said punches being mounted in said head for cooperating axial movement relative to each other, a second key holding said lower punch against rotation relative to said head and to said upper punch, a core-rod mounted within and projecting through said lower punch, and a plug underlying said lower punch in one position thereof,

Asaid plug being detachable to facilitate removal of said lower punch from said head.

LAWRENCE H. BAILEY. 

